Les Miserables, directed by Bille August, is a film about redemption.
Definition
Redemption is the act of making up for a mistake, being saved, or repaying to recover from guilt.
Redemption in Les Miserables:
In Les Miserables directed by Bille August and written by Victor Hugo, redemption is used to demonstrate the importance of giving undeserving recipients a second chance to become functioning members of society. The film starts with Valjean on his way to check in with his parole officer. During this time period, a prisoner on parole was treated like an insect, and Valjean had no hope for getting a job to become self-sufficient. Bishop Myriel rescues Jean Valjean from his plight of parole. Valjean tells the bishop that wants to make up for his past by being reborn and becoming a "new man" the next day (Hugo). Instead, Jean Valjean knocks out Myriel and steals from him. The bishop forgives him and gives him enough silver to start a new life. The many valuable objects that the bishop gives him make Valjean guilty, so he feels that he should repay his debt by being kind to others. Valjean tries to save Fontine but she dies and he feels guilty again, so he takes care of Cossette despite the danger that it causes him on numerous occasions her childish aversion to his rules almost gets both of them killed. Jean Valjean also makes up for the mistaken identity of the helpless tramp by announcing that he is the man the court is looking for. Valjean forgives Cossette for sneaking out at night to see Marius when he feels guilty about being over-protective. Jean Valjean saves Marius from the firing squad, then Inspector Javert sacrifices himself to make up for hunting Valjean after he reflects upon his guilt by the water. He explains that he "needed to think about what you deserve" (Hugo). Javert realizes that everyone deserves redemption. He allows Valjean to take Marius to his home where he will receive medical treatment. Marius is a revolutionary who defies the justice system that Javert stands for, but his life is still spared.
Symbol
Light, mostly candlelight, is a symbol of redemption in Les Miserables. The key moments where Jean Valjean finds salvation occur with significant light surrounded by darkness. When Bishop Myriel "ransoms" Valjean's soul from evil, it is done with candlesticks of silver. Light represents hope and fire can symbolize rebirth, so the candles save Jean Valjean from hopelessness and allow him to be reborn when he buys a new identity with the money he earns from selling the candlesticks.
Relation to A Tale of Two Cities
The theme of redemption in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo also appears in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Both stories examine the cycle of redemption and how it can spread. In Les Miserables, Bishop Myriel gives Jean Valjean an opportunity for redemption despite him being undeserving of the gesture. Valjean proceeds to show mercy to others and save those in his town due to the guilt he faces after being shown kindness. Valjean impacts the lives of others and causes even the rigid Inspector Javert to redeem himself and forgive Valjean. In A Tale of Two Cities, Lucie Manette offers salvation to all of the characters that she meets. Her father sees the light and is saved from his psychological torment when he meets with her. Sydney Carton is a miserable cog who feels that he is beyond redemption. He falls in love with Lucie, however, and is saved. Carton goes on to give a villain named Barsad a noble task and sacrifices himself to save others. To be redeemed, Carton turns to biblical scripture and faith. In the end, he reflects that "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known" (Dickens 293). Sydney Carton is redeemed from his life of mindless drinking and is given the opportunity to rest at last because he has continued the cycle of redemption. In Les Miserables, Inspector Javert seems like an incorrigible machine, but the mercy shown to him finally gets through and he understands what Jean Valjean has been trying to teach him, so he feels guilty and peacefully drowns himself, knowing that Valjean will continue showing kindness to others even if the law will not allow Javert to do so himself.
Jean Valjean Character Analysis
In Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Jean Valjean shows that those who are shown mercy, hope, and faith will be reborn to give mercy to others. Jean Valjean is an ex-convict who once stole bread to eat and was sentenced to nineteen years of hard labor to pay for the bread. While on parole, he is given food and shelter by Bishop Myriel, but he steals the silverware and knocks the bishop unconscious. When captured, Valjean is shown mercy by Myriel because he has "promised to become a new man" (Hugo). Valjean may not have planned to truly change at first, but the mercy and the silver that he receives "ransoms" him from evil (Hugo). The bribe compels him to keep his promise, and with the money he is also ransomed from being a convict. He can afford forged papers, and becomes the owner of an old tile factory where he gives the laborers a large part of the profits. After Valjean is reborn through the kindness of the bishop, he takes it upon himself to help all who he passes. When Fontine is fired from his factory, he pardons her from the charges of being a prostitute, hoping to help her recover from her debts. Jean Valjean interrupts a court case where an innocent man is being tried for being Jean Valjean and announces that he is Jean Valjean, giving the man hope, because he himself was shown hope before. When Inspector Javert arrives to arrest him for breaking parole, Valjean spares his life as he runs away. Bishop Myriel showed undeserved mercy to Valjean, so in turn Valjean is reborn to become a merciful man himself. The final chance that Valjean is given to kill Javert is when the revolutionaries want him to shoot the inspector in an alley. He risks the wrath of the revolutionaries and shoots the air instead, freeing Javert once more. He tells the inspector that "You're dead, Javert" (Hugo). Jean Valjean was given the opportunity to be reborn, and was given to God, so he compels Javert to accept rebirth by first dying. Valjean wants Javert's old tormented self to die so that he can move on from his past, and it finally succeeds. Javert arrests him but then formally frees him and commits suicide when Valjean explains that "I don't hate you" (Hugo). The rebirth that he experiences teaches him to always see the light in people, not their dark pasts. Javert is forced to consider why he relentlessly chases Valjean if even Valjean does not want vengeance against him. By being shown mercy and hope, Jean Valjean becomes an agent of mercy for others, continuing the cycle of kindness.
Connections
Hearthstone
In the online card game Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment, the paladin class uses the idea of redemption in many of the same ways that Victor Hugo does in Les Miserables. Hugo uses redemption in a very socialistic way to show that if everyone is given the opportunity to redeem themselves or save others, a community can lower its poverty and in turn its crime. Hugo also uses faith as a key component to redemption, as Jean Valjean is saved by Bishop Myriel in a church and later raises Cossette within the walls of a convent.
Tirion Fordring, an iconic character from the Blizzard universe, is a powerful card that paladins can play on their eighth turn that forms a connection between religious faith and redemption. He shouts "Put your faith in the light!" before he protects his allies (Hearthstone). Fordring is a minion that comes in the form of an eight-mana card. He taunts enemies into attacking him instead of other friendly minions, but his attack and health are much lower than other eight-mana minions. Paladins use many small minions that have little impact on their own but work together to form a presence that is difficult for the opponent to clear from the playing board. Tirion Fordring blocks incoming attacks to prevent the horde of weaker soldiers from perishing, but does so with similar strength. There is balance, and although Tirion Fordring is a legendary commander, he does not deviate far from the legions he commands, much like how Jean Valjean owns the factory that supports his entire village yet he lives in a house much like theirs. In the tale behind the character, Fordring comes to posses his sword, the Ashbringer, when it is given to him by the slave of a dark lord. The captive in question, Darion Morgraine, obtained the Ashbringer from his father, Alexandros. Alexandros was once the commander of the Silver Hand, knights who fought the undead hordes of the Lich King. The sword was forged by a dwarf seeking vengeance for his brother, who was killed by the undead. His oldest son betrayed him and his soul became trapped within the blade, which fell into the hands of the Lich King. In an effort to free his father, Darion, the youngest son, sacrificed himself to redeem his father's soul, but was enslaved in his place. Thus Tirion Fordring wields symbolic redemption in the form of the Ashbringer. The blade, like Inspector Javert, is initially intent on vengeance or justice. After the original wielder is redeemed by his son, the weapon comes into the hands of Fordring, who uses it for the greater good. In Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Inspector Javert is saved by Jean Valjean and redeems himself by setting Valjean free. Symbolic of the cycle of mercy, Tirion Fordring gives the Ashbringer to the paladin player when he falls. This continues the pattern of those who are shown redemption giving it to others.
Important spell cards for a paladin to retain control of the game include Redemption and Equality, which behave in a similar manner to Montreuil, the village that Jean Valjean governed, in terms of symbolic significance. Redemption is a cheap secret that can be played on the first turn of the game. The one-mana spell resurrects one of the paladin's minions if it is killed on his opponent's turn. The minion is recalled to life at one health. The action means that if it was such a weak minion that it only had one health to start out with, it will not have changed. If the minion were a significantly powerful one, however, it will be weakened to have the same power as its weaker peer. This shows that redemption is not costly and should be given freely, but it will go a long way and could offer rebirth. Jean Valjean runs the town Montreuil by trying to give everyone a second chance to make an honest living. No matter their history, the people are all welcome equally. This is similar to how the spell Redemption gives a minion an equal second chance no matter how powerful it previously was. Another spell, Equality, can be played on turn two and changes the health of all minions on the board to one. Unlike Redemption, the spell Equality does not require the death of a minion to trigger. Instead, everyone is automatically given the same potential. Victor Hugo creates Montreuil to show the wonders of a town where everyone is given the same opportunity. Unlike earned redemption, like how a minion falls and is rescued in Hearthstone, Hugo wants everyone to be shown forgiveness, even if it is undeserved. Inspector Javert is spared in Les Miserables despite his attempts to arrest Valjean.
Table of Contents
Theme
Les Miserables, directed by Bille August, is a film about redemption.
Definition
Redemption is the act of making up for a mistake, being saved, or repaying to recover from guilt.
Redemption in Les Miserables:
In Les Miserables directed by Bille August and written by Victor Hugo, redemption is used to demonstrate the importance of giving undeserving recipients a second chance to become functioning members of society. The film starts with Valjean on his way to check in with his parole officer. During this time period, a prisoner on parole was treated like an insect, and Valjean had no hope for getting a job to become self-sufficient. Bishop Myriel rescues Jean Valjean from his plight of parole. Valjean tells the bishop that wants to make up for his past by being reborn and becoming a "new man" the next day (Hugo). Instead, Jean Valjean knocks out Myriel and steals from him. The bishop forgives him and gives him enough silver to start a new life. The many valuable objects that the bishop gives him make Valjean guilty, so he feels that he should repay his debt by being kind to others. Valjean tries to save Fontine but she dies and he feels guilty again, so he takes care of Cossette despite the danger that it causes him on numerous occasions her childish aversion to his rules almost gets both of them killed. Jean Valjean also makes up for the mistaken identity of the helpless tramp by announcing that he is the man the court is looking for. Valjean forgives Cossette for sneaking out at night to see Marius when he feels guilty about being over-protective. Jean Valjean saves Marius from the firing squad, then Inspector Javert sacrifices himself to make up for hunting Valjean after he reflects upon his guilt by the water. He explains that he "needed to think about what you deserve" (Hugo). Javert realizes that everyone deserves redemption. He allows Valjean to take Marius to his home where he will receive medical treatment. Marius is a revolutionary who defies the justice system that Javert stands for, but his life is still spared.
Symbol
Light, mostly candlelight, is a symbol of redemption in Les Miserables. The key moments where Jean Valjean finds salvation occur with significant light surrounded by darkness. When Bishop Myriel "ransoms" Valjean's soul from evil, it is done with candlesticks of silver. Light represents hope and fire can symbolize rebirth, so the candles save Jean Valjean from hopelessness and allow him to be reborn when he buys a new identity with the money he earns from selling the candlesticks.
Relation to A Tale of Two Cities
The theme of redemption in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo also appears in A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Both stories examine the cycle of redemption and how it can spread. In Les Miserables, Bishop Myriel gives Jean Valjean an opportunity for redemption despite him being undeserving of the gesture. Valjean proceeds to show mercy to others and save those in his town due to the guilt he faces after being shown kindness. Valjean impacts the lives of others and causes even the rigid Inspector Javert to redeem himself and forgive Valjean. In A Tale of Two Cities, Lucie Manette offers salvation to all of the characters that she meets. Her father sees the light and is saved from his psychological torment when he meets with her. Sydney Carton is a miserable cog who feels that he is beyond redemption. He falls in love with Lucie, however, and is saved. Carton goes on to give a villain named Barsad a noble task and sacrifices himself to save others. To be redeemed, Carton turns to biblical scripture and faith. In the end, he reflects that "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known" (Dickens 293). Sydney Carton is redeemed from his life of mindless drinking and is given the opportunity to rest at last because he has continued the cycle of redemption. In Les Miserables, Inspector Javert seems like an incorrigible machine, but the mercy shown to him finally gets through and he understands what Jean Valjean has been trying to teach him, so he feels guilty and peacefully drowns himself, knowing that Valjean will continue showing kindness to others even if the law will not allow Javert to do so himself.
Jean Valjean Character Analysis
In Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Jean Valjean shows that those who are shown mercy, hope, and faith will be reborn to give mercy to others. Jean Valjean is an ex-convict who once stole bread to eat and was sentenced to nineteen years of hard labor to pay for the bread. While on parole, he is given food and shelter by Bishop Myriel, but he steals the silverware and knocks the bishop unconscious. When captured, Valjean is shown mercy by Myriel because he has "promised to become a new man" (Hugo). Valjean may not have planned to truly change at first, but the mercy and the silver that he receives "ransoms" him from evil (Hugo). The bribe compels him to keep his promise, and with the money he is also ransomed from being a convict. He can afford forged papers, and becomes the owner of an old tile factory where he gives the laborers a large part of the profits. After Valjean is reborn through the kindness of the bishop, he takes it upon himself to help all who he passes. When Fontine is fired from his factory, he pardons her from the charges of being a prostitute, hoping to help her recover from her debts. Jean Valjean interrupts a court case where an innocent man is being tried for being Jean Valjean and announces that he is Jean Valjean, giving the man hope, because he himself was shown hope before. When Inspector Javert arrives to arrest him for breaking parole, Valjean spares his life as he runs away. Bishop Myriel showed undeserved mercy to Valjean, so in turn Valjean is reborn to become a merciful man himself. The final chance that Valjean is given to kill Javert is when the revolutionaries want him to shoot the inspector in an alley. He risks the wrath of the revolutionaries and shoots the air instead, freeing Javert once more. He tells the inspector that "You're dead, Javert" (Hugo). Jean Valjean was given the opportunity to be reborn, and was given to God, so he compels Javert to accept rebirth by first dying. Valjean wants Javert's old tormented self to die so that he can move on from his past, and it finally succeeds. Javert arrests him but then formally frees him and commits suicide when Valjean explains that "I don't hate you" (Hugo). The rebirth that he experiences teaches him to always see the light in people, not their dark pasts. Javert is forced to consider why he relentlessly chases Valjean if even Valjean does not want vengeance against him. By being shown mercy and hope, Jean Valjean becomes an agent of mercy for others, continuing the cycle of kindness.
Connections
Hearthstone
In the online card game Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment, the paladin class uses the idea of redemption in many of the same ways that Victor Hugo does in Les Miserables. Hugo uses redemption in a very socialistic way to show that if everyone is given the opportunity to redeem themselves or save others, a community can lower its poverty and in turn its crime. Hugo also uses faith as a key component to redemption, as Jean Valjean is saved by Bishop Myriel in a church and later raises Cossette within the walls of a convent.
Tirion Fordring, an iconic character from the Blizzard universe, is a powerful card that paladins can play on their eighth turn that forms a connection between religious faith and redemption. He shouts "Put your faith in the light!" before he protects his allies (Hearthstone). Fordring is a minion that comes in the form of an eight-mana card. He taunts enemies into attacking him instead of other friendly minions, but his attack and health are much lower than other eight-mana minions. Paladins use many small minions that have little impact on their own but work together to form a presence that is difficult for the opponent to clear from the playing board. Tirion Fordring blocks incoming attacks to prevent the horde of weaker soldiers from perishing, but does so with similar strength. There is balance, and although Tirion Fordring is a legendary commander, he does not deviate far from the legions he commands, much like how Jean Valjean owns the factory that supports his entire village yet he lives in a house much like theirs. In the tale behind the character, Fordring comes to posses his sword, the Ashbringer, when it is given to him by the slave of a dark lord. The captive in question, Darion Morgraine, obtained the Ashbringer from his father, Alexandros. Alexandros was once the commander of the Silver Hand, knights who fought the undead hordes of the Lich King. The sword was forged by a dwarf seeking vengeance for his brother, who was killed by the undead. His oldest son betrayed him and his soul became trapped within the blade, which fell into the hands of the Lich King. In an effort to free his father, Darion, the youngest son, sacrificed himself to redeem his father's soul, but was enslaved in his place. Thus Tirion Fordring wields symbolic redemption in the form of the Ashbringer. The blade, like Inspector Javert, is initially intent on vengeance or justice. After the original wielder is redeemed by his son, the weapon comes into the hands of Fordring, who uses it for the greater good. In Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Inspector Javert is saved by Jean Valjean and redeems himself by setting Valjean free. Symbolic of the cycle of mercy, Tirion Fordring gives the Ashbringer to the paladin player when he falls. This continues the pattern of those who are shown redemption giving it to others.
Important spell cards for a paladin to retain control of the game include Redemption and Equality, which behave in a similar manner to Montreuil, the village that Jean Valjean governed, in terms of symbolic significance. Redemption is a cheap secret that can be played on the first turn of the game. The one-mana spell resurrects one of the paladin's minions if it is killed on his opponent's turn. The minion is recalled to life at one health. The action means that if it was such a weak minion that it only had one health to start out with, it will not have changed. If the minion were a significantly powerful one, however, it will be weakened to have the same power as its weaker peer. This shows that redemption is not costly and should be given freely, but it will go a long way and could offer rebirth. Jean Valjean runs the town Montreuil by trying to give everyone a second chance to make an honest living. No matter their history, the people are all welcome equally. This is similar to how the spell Redemption gives a minion an equal second chance no matter how powerful it previously was. Another spell, Equality, can be played on turn two and changes the health of all minions on the board to one. Unlike Redemption, the spell Equality does not require the death of a minion to trigger. Instead, everyone is automatically given the same potential. Victor Hugo creates Montreuil to show the wonders of a town where everyone is given the same opportunity. Unlike earned redemption, like how a minion falls and is rescued in Hearthstone, Hugo wants everyone to be shown forgiveness, even if it is undeserved. Inspector Javert is spared in Les Miserables despite his attempts to arrest Valjean.